Hello. Next chapter dropping.
{ Line Break }
Konan observed the children playing in Fire Park with an imperceptible smile, eyes light. Turning around, she continued her way to the Uchiha compound. The Third Hokage was not available at this time, hence her having free time for today to complete her actual objective. She'll be meeting him and elders tomorrow to give information on Rain with the goal of an alliance.
By then, she'll have information on who 'Madara' is. Hundreds of paper worms and more were inside Konoha searching for information. The Anbu were wary of her but were unable to detect her technique without dozens of sensor-nin to find every slip of paper that had been folded into an insect. The Hyuuga would be able to but the risk was worth it.
As she stepped near the Uchiha District, she noticed hostile gazes from windows.
"What're you doing here, Konan-san?" A familiar voice spoke out and Konan looked to see Shisui once more. The teen stood with a confident smile and pose, but was friendly and unassuming.
"I came here to see the sights of the village. The Uchiha District does not seem to advise against visitors and so I decided to visit." Konan eyed the Anbu signatures and cameras in the district. Many of them were expertly hidden, her only finding them through her own surveillance techniques. Clearly, these people were not trusted.
"I see. Would you like a tour?" Shisui grinned at her and Konan observed the ninja before her.
An already reputed shinobi at the age of fifteen who was listed in the Kirigakure Bingo Books. Shunshin no Shisui, a flee on sight shinobi who would make an excellent S-Class in the future. She supposes that she could spare time to integrate herself into Konoha. "Very well."
And so Konan was introduced to the Uchiha district of Konohagakure proper.
{ Line Break }
"How many Uchiha have died the past fifteen years with their bodies not recoverable or eyes removed?" Konan asked Shisui as they were sitting at one of the Uchiha's eateries.
"That's an oddly specific question, Konan-san, why do you ask?" He probed back towards her, seeking information.
"An acquaintance of mine holds the Sharingan and I feel as if he is going against our organization." Shisui paused, eyes looking to her own. He searched for any mistruths or lies, as well as body language to detect anything more to it. Konan was perfectly still and enjoying her drink, just watching him back.
"Are you sure? It's not one of those many other similar-looking dojutsu, is it? Ketsuryugan from the Chinoike Clan?" Konan shook her head.
"It is most certainly the Sharingan. I would not mistake the design. Though, his eye is unique even amongst other Sharingan wielders. It turns into quite the design from the ordinary three tomoe. A unique pattern similar to a shuriken."
Shisui willingly blanked his face to not betray his thoughts. Konan sipped some of her tea. "I see. Well, there are no shinobi that hold that specific sharingan, but.."
Shisui paused, thinking of his Mangekyo. Thinking of when he had unlocked it, when he let his ego cause a comrade's death because he was too envious of another's abilities. Another could have eyes like his? "I'd have to look into it more, but.. I don't think anyone in this clan within the past twenty years has awoken such Sharingan except for the Wicked Eye."
"I see. How about presumed dead Uchiha that have died during the Third War? I am looking to figure out who my acquaintance is."
". . I'll get back to you on that, Konan-san. For the meantime, how about answering my questions?" He asked, hoping to get onto a different topic. He was curious on whoever this acquaintance of Konan's was, as they'd be a threat to the Uchiha clan, but he had to figure out her goals now.
Konan nodded, "Within reason of course."
Shisui nodded, "Indeed. So, your 'organization' you called it-"
"I will not be answering anything about the organization I am a part of at this time. If you wish to know things about Amegakure, I am allowed to give you such information." Konan tilted her head a tiny bit to look at a window.
Shisui frowned internally but continued with that as the basis, pausing for a fraction of a second as his eyes caught Itachi entering the establishment from behind Konan. Shisui's eyes and Itachi's locked for a moment before Itachi realized Shisui was with someone and Shisui looked back towards Konan. Afterwards, Shisui looked to the ceiling as if he was admiring the decorations, ignoring Itachi and the slight red that flashed for a mere moment from Itachi's direction.
"So, stuff about Amegakure? What're the bakeries like?"
Konan closed her eyes, "They love to make anything relating to the most exalted dojutsu as a style and are few and far in between. Beautiful signs advertise their wares, glowing with a vibrance unseen in any other village. Inside them are delicacies that have been baked to perfection."
One of Shisui's eyebrows raised, surprised by that answer. Something was amiss. Amegakure was that technological advanced? "Ame must be quite innovative. Those signs, how do they glow? Ninjutsu?"
Konan observed him before shaking her head. "It is a design made by scientists within the village. A gas called 'neon' was used, alongside other materials, to provide unique color and vibrancy. It was quite expensive to make, but no one has made any objections against it as it combats the drabness of the village." Shisui hummed in understanding, secretly wanting to visit Amegakure himself to see this. Either way, he had more questions to ask.
"Are Ame shinobi as temperamental as people say?"
Konan blinked, taking a bite of the pastry she had left unattended so far. "I believe every person is unique, but many shinobi under my command do indeed have tempers. Are you asking these questions for the benefit of your friend watching us?"
'She's good.' Shisui thought to himself, shrugging. "Who can say? Weasel, come over here. She already figured you were here." He didn't say Itachi's actual name, not wanting to give Konan any information she doesn't have.
Itachi, the quiet and good-natured kid he was, complied and sat next to Shisui. There were already noticeable lines of stress on his face and Shisui knew Itachi was even gentler than he was. He could only hope the world didn't chew him up.
"Say, Konan-san, why not introduce yourself to my best friend here?" Shisui grinned at Konan and brought an arm around Itachi's shoulders. Itachi was no doubt moderately displeased over this, but this was all to keep a closer eye on the kunoichi under different excuses. A small frown was on Itachi's face as Konan observed the two. It was a game to garner information from one who was tight-lipped or answering with non-informative answers.
A game he played well, but Konan seemed infallible. No matter what Shisui did, he couldn't get more than a surface-reading of Konan and moreover, couldn't find anything useful aside from something anyone who would have visited Amegakure could have garnered themselves instantly.
"You have introduced me already with my name, Shunshin no Shisui. I think the better question is, does your friend have his sharingan?" Konan's words were gentle and polite, but Shisui knew better. Was she onto something? Shisui shook his head, lying unabashedly. "Nope! He hasn't unlocked it yet. He'll get there, though!"
"It would have been nice not to lie to me. He had activated it as soon as he saw me. Two tomoe is quite impressive for one his age. Prodigal, even."
Shisui froze and he noticed Itachi do the same, mouth opening in a gasp. He mentally bumped the threat level of this woman by several notches. That sort of observational ability was on par with his own at the very least. He had seen it but had assumed since Itachi was behind her, she wouldn't be able to.
However she did so, it must have been the slight tilt of her head before Itachi entered. She wasn't looking out the window, she was observing the entrance. To also see how many tomoe Itachi had with only peripheral vision from such a distance? Her eyesight was exemplary.
"You're one dangerous woman, Konan-san," Shisui said lightly, regaining his composure. He patted Itachi on the shoulder to stop him from any shaking.
"High praise for someone so vaunted within Konoha, Shisui-san. Though, I'm afraid I must be going. I shall be going to rest now and tomorrow, I shall be meeting with the Hokage."
Konan got out of the booth and left.
Shisui looked at Itachi and grinned, "Well, she was quite something, wasn't she Itachi?"
"Indeed... Will she be an enemy, Shisui-san?" Itachi's voice was worried but Shisui gave a slight shrug. "We won't know until we do. For now, we're just keeping eyes on her and reporting to Lord Hokage. Say, want some dango?"
{ Line Break }
Konan observed the elder who was in her way, seeing two Anbu behind him. They were preventing her from meeting the Hokage, though she was unsure why. Idly, she was observing all the information she had garnered from the many paper creatures she had created.
"Do you have something for me?" She questioned, not at all reacting to the slowly encircling amount of Anbu she detected around her.
"Akatsuki are a threat to Konoha. I would have thought you'd have vanished when your leader died, but it seems the opposite." The old man in front of her nearly caused her to eviscerate him from the earth as rage suddenly pooled through her body. She calmed herself with no indication of anything wrong.
"A dead leader? I do not recall our leader being deceased," Konan said carefully. Not many people knew that Yahiko died. The Akatsuki was famous in the Land of Rain, famous enough to have once been targeted by Iwagakure in its infancy, but Yahiko was still considered the leader.
"Don't fool me, girl." That's when Konan put together what she knew - the Anbu and the old man in front of her. Was this man part of the attack on the Akatsuki? She had recognized Konoha shinobi in the group that horrible day. Maybe he was a family member of an Akatsuki member? Impossible, none of them were from the Leaf then.
". . . I see." She spoke emotionlessly. She directed paper butterflies to stalk this elder from the sky. "If that is all, I have business to attend to with your Hokage."
The man walked past her, his Anbu guard doing the same. She made sure to keep an eye on all of those around her, pieces of paper hidden by a camouflage ninjutsu to blend in wrapping around parts of the feet of those near her.
She stepped forward into the office of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Professor.
"It is good to meet you, Konan of Amegakure. I hope your experience in our village was to your satisfaction?" He smiled in a grandfatherly way. She had expected many things, but the gentleness of the leader was not one of them. For the leader of a country who caused her and her friends such grief back then, she almost wanted to scream in rage. She held still. Even if he acts nice, he is a leader of a nation. It is just an act.
Still, she gave a slight nod. "Indeed. Your village is quite peaceful. Though, I had an unpleasant meeting with an elder of yours. He was quite the character, insulting me and my organization."
"Ah, yes. I requested they not attend because they are busy and will be busy for a few days more. I assume you met Danzo, then? My wayward friend has quite the issue with socializing amongst outsiders."
The man gave a slight smile and Konan slowly closed her eyes, "These circumstances are fortunate then. Of the information you know I possess, which one do you want me to clarify?"
The Hokage hummed, "As much as I would love to know where the student I failed is, I believe it would be better to know what has gone down in Amegakure if we are to discuss."
"As you wish. Amegakure is under new leadership. For the past four years, I have been taking the place of Hanzo the Salamander in meetings using a Transformation Jutsu perfected by the current leader. All Ame shinobi had been instructed to perpetuate the belief Hanzo still ruled. Hanzo of the Salamander was personally slain by our Village Head, Pain. The words Pain wants Konoha to understand is that Ame will not be a battleground for you and the other Ninja villages again."
Hiruzen gave a thoughtful frown but nodded, "I find this acceptable. Konoha is not in the business of starting wars."
'So you say.' Konan thought to herself with anger, narrowing her eyes. 'You didn't seem very appreciative of people defending their home in a war you started either. How times have changed.'
"Then I will discuss the rogue sannin. As of four days ago, he was in the Land of Grass searching information on the organization I am part of. We sent some of our members to deal with him, though I am unaware of his current status. He is most certainly dealt with or has retreated. In three days I am to learn of what his fate becomes, we may negotiate on it then."
Hiruzen let out a deep sigh in response, slowly tilting his head and muttering something about his student. "That news troubles me but still, thank you."
Konan let out a frown of her own but didn't respond to it. "That is all the information I have been allowed to share at this time by the Village Head of Amegakure." Konan turned around and exited the office of the third Hokage.
It was time to understand who the elder was and figure out how to get rid of him if he was involved in that incident. She cared not for any force if it meant avenging Yahiko. She could only hope Jiraiya-sensei wasn't going to show up in Konoha.
{ Line Break }
Konan filtered through her senses, observing each piece of the secret facility she had discovered. Each paper butterfly found information and she made a seal, words being written down onto the papers.
She was sitting on her bed folding origami to the outside world, but on the inside she was taking information of Konoha entirely. The secret Anbu shinobi that the elder Danzo had were his own unique Anbu. It was a sort of known secret amongst the jonin shinobi she was learning from.
What wasn't known was the extent Danzo had gone with it. She had found documentation that was classified to extreme degrees with fuinjutsu. It was fortunate that all of it was paper, something she could easily manipulate, slipping her chakra through it by the paper butterflies and bypassing any restrictions using the ability bestowed by the Amata path. She could tell reserves for such were lowering, but that was fine.
She hummed as she folded the four hundredth crane of the day, wanting to just think of better days as this went on. The elder had made her remember when the three of them were training with Jiraiya-sensei.
Years before Yahiko's death.
Her teeth clenched as she continued her information gathering. The moon was coming over the sky and by tomorrow, Konan's plan to get revenge should be culminated.
She had seen the villagers and more, she knew they'd disprove and riot. But the villagers weren't important. The Hokage, truly, was a peaceful person. He may have known of the existence, but he wouldn't approve of the many extents she had found and copied the information of.
And realizing how many shinobi and merchants have mysteriously gone 'missing' from the village because of these excursions?
'These plans were foolish,' Konan shook her head. She could see why uniting Konoha against the Uchiha was useful to Danzo's goals, but she could only see this end in weakening Konoha. Konoha's destruction from the Nine Tails may have needed a scapegoat, but he had prepared multiple scapegoats.
The Nine Tails jinchurikii, the Uchiha, the Anbu, and even the Hokage were all being defamed and had plans for doing so set in place. Most completed. There was no peace to be had when all you provided was destruction.
"Your time is over." She whispered to herself.
{ Line Break }
Konan's eyes tracked the shinobi who attacked her, twisting around each strike with ease. She stepped around another attack and paper shurikens impacted her opponent's head, killing them.
Paper swirled around in the shape of an Angel as she began to float off the ground. Around her she saw many Uchiha warriors blazing through opponents with righteous fury.
'Instead of accepting reality, they decided to slaughter those holding the information. Quite arrogant of the elder to think he could take on his own village.' Konan mused as she swerved around a fireball and then blasted forth in a spiral. Her wings sharpened and carved through the attacker as she brought herself back into the sky.
She extended both of her hands as they began to disassemble into explosive tags that folded themselves into shurikens and spun in place.
"Art of the Shikigami: Explosive Shuriken Shower." She intoned, the shurikens strategically landing and exploding in between battles. She wanted to limit casualties of the side who weren't meant to be targets.
She was honestly surprised Konoha had come into a domestic conflict this easily rather than attacking her. She was wondering where Kakuzu was. She had slipped her note a day ago to prepare and come to Konoha to assist her.
Regardless, as the combat ravaged Konoha, Konan did what she wished someone would do for her when she was but a child.
Protect the innocent.
Until Kakuzu arrives, she will remain doing so. The Elder will die tonight, that she was sure.
Shurikens and more began being thrown at her, some with ninja wire and others laced with explosive tags. It was all irrelevant as she twisted and swerved, her own shuriken engulfing and exploding her opponents. Clones of Paper began throwing themselves in the way of opponents, exploding like bombs after multiple strikes.
That was when she saw Kakuzu and she opened her mouth.
"Good to see you, Kakuzu. Deal with them, I am on a mission of revenge."
Then, Konan scattered.
{ Line Break }
"Konan..." He sighed... "Very well. Stay for a week longer. I trust you will be able to handle anything coming your way. Give Kakuzu the mission we discussed before you left. Do not tell them of our affiliation with Jiraiya. If you need help, tell me, understand?"
'Yes, Nagato.'
". . ." His Rinnegan eyes looked up at the ceiling and then looked over at the unconscious body near him. "Thank you, Amata."
He focused on his ring and projected details to Sasori and Orochimaru.
"Sasori, take Orochimaru to the Land of Wind. There are missions for you both to complete. Make sure the snake doesn't get uppity."
Nagato stood, eyes narrowing at the wall. "You found a way to bypass those seals, then." He noted.
A man, white and black, came out of the wall. "Was very difficult and hard! Shut up, idiot. It was easy." They spoke in different tones.
Nagato's eyes always knew that it was truly just two unique beings merged, but he never stated this. He could also tell neither were human. He looked over to the side at Amata. The body was entirely unconscious from chakra and he didn't want to try his hand while near possible enemies. Even...
"You cannot hide from me, Uchiha. Reveal yourself."
The area in front of him swirled and deposited the supposed legendary shinobi.
"Good. To business. Zetsu: Have you discovered any new talents for the Akatsuki?"
Nagato ignored the anger pouring out of the Uchiha and focused on the dual-being. "Of course we did! How could we not while we were- Shut up. He doesn't need to know."
"Your paltry attempts to distract me from bigger conversations do not work, Zetsu." The Outer Path spoke. "'Madara', there is a question on my mind."
"Oh? The Great Pain has a question for me?"
"How come through all the attempts in history of the most powerful people... The Sage of Six Paths, Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, Sakumo Hatake, Chen of Konoha, Jiraiya of the Sannin, and even Hanzo of the Salamander. . . people who all had one similar goal... to secure peace... never achieve it?"
"Through every instance of history, those with motivations for peace that end up the most powerful but unable to accomplish it?"
'Madara' didn't answer, just staring. "Are you going somewhere with this, Nagato?"
"How perceptive of the 'legendary Uchiha'..." Nagato closed his eyes, "Humanity is a disease. They cannot accept peace. Yahiko's motivation was one through shared pain and revenge, an eye for an eye. Peace is an illusion the greatest of minds cannot comprehend."
'Madara' froze a bit, but nodded. "Indeed. Peace is but a temporary illusion. Do you mean to make this illusion permanent?"
Nagato looked at Zetsu who was looking at both of them. "No. I have gained new insight. Peace will be the result when consequences stop existing. Peace is an unattainable, but beautiful dream. Rather than seeking peace, one should secure coexistence."
"One would argue coexistence and peace are the same."
"They are only somewhat correct. You and I are not at peace, but are in coexistence. You and I exist on the same wavelength but are not at all comfortable with each other. Is it peace if there is tension? Of course not."
"I tire of these semantics, Nagato. Get on with it."
". . . Zetsu, who are the people you think are Akatsuki material?"
"Oh, we get to speak now?! Akatsuki material? You're joking. Do you think Akatsuki-material is impressive?"
Nagato waved a hand, "On with it."
"This really interesting fish face guy is rising in notoriety over at Kirigakure! I wonder what he'd taste like."
"Kisame Hoshigaki? Juzo had mentioned him. How receptive is he to the Akatsuki?"
"He trusts in my plan-"
"Your plan or the goal of the Akatsuki, Madara? I can barely trust you and you've only caused peril for the members of my organization."
The masked man looked at Nagato with his mangekyo swirling. "He is receptive to the Akatsuki and is fiercely loyal to any side that gets his trust. I have personally met him. I have no doubt he'd sooner kill himself than betray the organization or a partner."
The wielder of the Rinnegan nodded, "That is very good news. Anyone else of interest?"
"There's this really weird Silva guy, like he's A buffoon, only decently skilled in kenjutsu."
"Send Kakuzu to him for recruitment. He needs a partner, I do not care who as long as they are an elite jonin. Leave us."
Pain then glanced over at Madara before searching his desk for missions sent to Amegakure. He flicked through the missions, memorizing each detail. "Will you take your mask off?" He asked the man as he continued to do so.
"Of course not-"
"Then get out. You are not the leader or in my organization. We are barely partners. You tried to cause the death of one of my more valuable members and I am not in the best of moods for that." Nagato stated, continuing his work. He wrote signatures for signing off on assassination missions, putting them in a pile to send out to the Amegakure shinobi.
He looked at one that needed an instructor at the small shinobi academy. Perhaps the Preta path will be good for that? Showcase them to not rely on genjutsus as much and hone their temper when their opponent is beyond their abilities.
"You're healthy it seems."
Nagato ignored the man, continuing his work. There was a peculiar request to build an onsen and a few storefronts. There was even an odd swordsmith wanting red painted bones from the soulless summons, which he allowed. He honestly hadn't thought of it.
The Human Path's new energy overflowed and he immediately shoved it into the Akatsuki cloak he was wearing. He had been doing this whenever the Human Path was deactivated. Madara made a slight noise of disbelief and Nagato's own eyes detected chakra being produced by his cloak.
Of course, he had experienced the same with the Human Path. Each soul the Human Path took enforced and empowered its cloak with chakra and the sword on its back was the same charge he himself deposited into his cloak. Though, he had been doing this for only a week and it finally paid off, the energy causing the cloak to become more than before.
He looked back up at Madara, visible eye narrowed. "Do you wish to test me, Madara? You've overstayed your welcome."
". . . Will you reveal your true form to the Akatsuki?"
"Not yet. The Akatsuki's leader will be, and always has been, Yahiko. His ideals are what create Pain. His wish to become God of this world and bring it peace from war will live on, even if I now see the futility of it. Do you have any more questions, Madara? If not, I have a mission for the Akatsuki's newest member and you will be part of it. Be at the lake in fifteen hours. If you still want to be part of my organization then this mission will decide that."
{ Line Break }
Obito bristled underneath the mask. He couldn't understand why Nagato suddenly became detached to his interference, all the manipulations he had started falling apart. Perhaps Konan had done something? She was always the rebellious one and Yahiko confided in her.
Underneath the mask, the swirling sharingan narrowed. Perhaps he should kill her? Revitalize Nagato's hate to the nations? He had plenty of options to work with.
A mission in the Land of Earth where the 3rd Tsuchikage just so happens to find her and they engage, with a small genjutsu to allow her to be caught in his Dust Release? The Land of Water and misplacing the special oil she puts on all her paper to give it the ability to ignore water?
Then, his eyes looked to Nagato who was focusing on paperwork, only barely paying attention to him. Perhaps he could take Nagato's eyes?
'No. I'd die in the attempt.' This set back many of his plans, but perhaps it might work out in the future. He swirled into Kamui, despising the loss of his pawn. It was even more irritating when Nagato figured out his machinations for Tonika Village.
How could he complete the Eye of the Moon plan without the Rinnegan? He doubted anyone in the world could kill Nagato, even with an army. His poor health was the only reason Obito felt confident in being able to kill him but that weakness has been entirely removed by the new healer in the Akatsuki. The same one in Nagato's office that was unconscious.
{ Line Break }
Sasori, through the eyes of Hiruko, observed the dead body under him. He brought a hand over to the blood, eyes detailing over. It was poisoned without a doubt, but one he hadn't learned the name of. The mission they were going to accept was a waste of time, all the clients dead.
"Get over here." He gruffly spoke out to his partner, the pale man that was Orochimaru appearing. "Oh? What is this, Sasori?"
"Blood with a poison I've been unable to identify. It's someone from the Land of Fire as I am able to recognize some of the makeup hails from the Land of Fire. I'll let you handle this, you'd be more experienced." Sasori had noticed an extremely powerful genjutsu concealing something fifteen meters away. It was something Hiruko's shell protected him from.
A few chakra strings detached the tail from Hiruko as it disappeared under the sand and crawled over. Then, he twisted his hand, the entire genjutsu being ripped open as its owner was suddenly caught by the tail and Sasori turned over, stalking over to the man he had captured. Each step upon the sand was a warning sign of the man's eventual death.
"Who are you?" He demanded, reattaching the tail to Hiruko. "This poison will only last forty seconds more. Your paralysis will lead to suffocation and death afterwards as your organs stop functioning."
The man didn't speak, gasping for breath and air. "This fool doesn't even realize he's already dead," Orochimaru's voice came out with an amused tone. It was true. The man was clearly trying to clench and avoid his fate, but it was too late. The poison was in his system and he had no way to cure it.
"Hmph. He also has nothing to offer us anymore. Let's go. Our prospective clients were butchered and I think I know who did it. We'll be heading to the Land of This as the Land of That is hiring our services."
"Such peculiar names for countries, don't you agree?" Orochimaru's tongue flicked out, as Sasori answered. "I don't have time to care about names. Let's go."
Sasori pulled out the Third Kazekage, a platform of iron sand emitting from the mouth to lift both of the Akatsuki duo into the air as they began to move, the sound of the wind all that Sasori could hear as they left.
{ Line Break }
The Preta Path twisted around the shinobi, delivering a palm strike to their shoulder. He let a quiet snort exit himself as he swerved around a kunai, grabbing it and launching it back at target, nailing them to the wall via their scarf. An umbrella came around, senbon raining down on him.
He plucked a senbon and used it to bat the others away. Even the formidable senbon storm, a trademark of a more skilled bunch, was unable to damage him when employed by an academy student. Though, the fact they were able to do it at this age properly meant they received good training.
He twisted, bringing his leg up into the guard of the child, slamming them into the wall, their umbrella flying into the air. One step, two steps, hop and stick to the wall above them, avoiding two weak ninjutsus. The Preta Path closed his eyes, counting down.
On the fourth count, he swerved to the right, extended his arm, and launched an opponent towards the other, knocking them over. He didn't expect fresh academy students to really test him at all, so he was impressed that one at least made him reveal a bit more speed and strength than he needed.
Either way, the battle had ended. The umbrella hit the ground and there was applause. The eyes of the Preta Path roamed through the room, seeing jonin, chunin, and even a few genin in attendance, only three being instructors.
"This is what happens when you face an opponent more than what you are ready for. Someone who is beyond your abilities in every way." His voice echoed out, gruff but dulled. "You exist at the bottom in the world of pain and misery, with your only ability to grow or adapt to experience the world. Learn new things, survive encounters, or even travel around the world. All of it is necessary for one to become powerful."
"You are all to return to duties. The A-rank and S-rank missions have been updated at the office, take a gander. My angel is doing business in Konoha. I know your thoughts on them, and I share some of them, but we are in a time of presumed peace. I would like for it to stay that way a while longer." And with that, the Path of Pain left the academy.
Nagato observed through the Path's eyes as it returned to the tower and went to sleep. He was curious about the academy here and was surprised they were training well. But he noticed an extreme reliance on genjutsus and hesitance to strike their leader. He hoped his words when he first entered and fought the first group would go through their heads.
He had enough death to his hands not even of the village he controlled. It would do no good to let his own villagers die in easily preventable ways.
'Amata will be active soon,' he notes. The chakra buildup has been underway for quite a while, as it appears the Amata path running out of chakra puts them in a deep sleep or coma until they restore it all.
{ Line Break }
"The bounty hunter has left. You said he was a member of your organization?"
"Yes. Kakuzu is one of our members." Konan answered the man in front of her. Due to her status, it was risky to torture her. And with news that a man had successfully slain Hanzo, that means that whoever was running Amegakure now was more dangerous than the man who gave the Sannin their infamy.
"I see. Do you know his reputation?" The questions were easy to answer and quite exasperating, but she had no choice but to answer them. "Very much so. We sought him out for recruitment because of it. He accepted."
"Who else is in the organization?" She didn't even change her facial expression as she easily shut down that question. "That is classified to the Leader of our organization to give. I have not received orders to disclose their identities under risk of potential enemies."
"So you say. Why did you attack the Leaf? You're lucky to not be in a cell!" A hand slammed onto the table in front of her as she remained impassive. They'd tried applying a genjutsu as well, but it easily washed off of her. She now knew it was a result of the ability the Path of Amata bestowed, but it was odd how one of her weaknesses was utterly nullified.
"I did not attack the Leaf. I executed a traitor to the leaf that committed terrorism within the Village Hidden in the Rain." She closed her eyes, listening to the next words. "Liar! You framed him for crimes he didn't commit! You did this to cover up your crimes!"
"That's enough," a cold voice said and Konan opened her eyes. It was the person she had sensed been watching for the longest. She believed she recognized him, but couldn't tell why. Perhaps he was one of the Anbu who followed her around the village? "I will take care of it from here."
And stepping in was Kakashi of the Sharingan, a porcelain mask concealing his features. Of course, it was his hair that she immediately recognized first. "I see you've decided to reign in your friend before he tried causing an international accident, Hatake-san."
The man who was interrogating her before growled as he began leaving. She heard muttering about Anbu taking over police matters. During her time, she had gathered the Uchiha and Anbu often butted heads over the same sections, all because they performed the exact same roles. The Hokage just decided when one took over.
It was interesting and just a design from the Second Hokage that had continued to this day, even if Konan found it an utterly impractical approach. However, that impracticality was the point. They clearly wanted to limit the Uchiha and cause either resentment, or prevent something only the Uchihas could do.
'Perhaps Madara was the reason?' "Konan-san," a voice interrupted her thoughts.
Her eyes looked up, locking onto the son of the White Fang's own. "Apologies, Hatake-san. Could you repeat what you said?" She minorly berated herself for drifting away from an important conversation.
"Explain to us, step by step, what caused you to cause such an incident." He was blunt, clearly demanding it rather than asking for it. She nodded anyways, this was acceptable. It appeared the earlier investigator was utterly incompetent as she was interrogated by one of the Konoha Anbu's best about matters concerning the Akatsuki, Amegakure, and her involvement within the newest political drama that appeared in Konoha's borders.
She was impressed internally at his capabilities, but still was able to maneuver conversations away from topics she did not want to be revealed, such as anything revolving around membership of the Akatsuki with exception that it was a group of mostly nuke-nin of A and S ranks.
She was released the day after, able to wander Konoha with more Anbu trailing her. It was time to see what was going on in Konoha. Starting with the Hokage Mountain. In fifteen hours, she will receive information on Orochimaru and tell the Hokage of what has become of him.
"Leave her alone!" A voice cried out nearby and Konan turned around, going towards the noise. The Anbu near her shifted, some looking into the situation. Konan found herself near the Academy that was at the bottom of the mountain. A blonde-haired girl was protecting a pink-haired one from a group of girls.
"I see that even in the village hidden in the leaves, some people grow up ostracized," Konan mused to herself, quietly stepping into the situation. Her eyes took a closer look at the blonde-haired girl and her observation slipped out before she could stop it, "A Yamanaka?"
The Anbu tensed, some already in positions ready to attack her while they are hidden. The Yamanaka Clan was important, after all, and she wasn't exactly the most trustworthy. Regardless, even the children paused.
"Excuse me," Konan said to the Yamanaka, ignoring the girls who she already deduced as bullies, "do your parents own a flower shop? I heard the Yamanaka were good botanists. You see, I have a hobby in flower pressing and have not been here in Konoha for long."
She also hadn't actually scouted the markets or clan districts that weren't the Uchiha due to how busy they were and the chances for her paper scouts to be caught in a complete accident. The girl awkwardly stuttered an affirmative and Konan nodded. "I see. Where is the flower shop?"
The bullies were frozen but quickly becoming angry. It was time to rectify the situation before it could escalate. A piece of paper, innocuous, fell from the sky in front of the bullies, even the Yamanaka and pink-haired girl looking at it. As one side of paper turned to the bullies, away from the two girls, it flashed and fluttered into dozens of smaller papers in a pattern.
Their eyes slowly began to close as the bullies fell to the ground asleep. "I believe that is the situation handled. Do you know where your flower shop is?"
The girl stuttered but began listing out where she knew it to be with some awe and slight bits of fear. The pink-haired girl behind her was much the same. "I am Konan and it was pleasant to meet you two."
Konan turned away, only barely listening as the girls introduced themselves to each other. It appears they hadn't even met before now. Then, the conversation turned to Konan as they began to leave. Konan gave a slight smile, ignoring the rest she could hear if she decided to listen.
The Hokage Mountain could wait, she'd like to get materials for her next flower pressing project first. She had a lovely idea for it.
{ Line Break }
Hm? Who is that? Oh, and it appears Konoha doesn't want to start a war still!